Apparatus for trzating pulps



July 29, i924.

W. O. BORCHERDT APPARATUS FOR TREATING PULPS Original Filed June 4, 1919 .Euy 29, i924. 1,502.65?

w. o. BQRCHERDT APPARATUS E'ORv TREATING PULPS Original Filed June 4. 1919 2 Shee'cs-Sheet,V 2

. f5 7 if 1N VEN TOR" A TTORNE YS Patented dalla 2?, illiiM.I

Urigdnal application filed June e, teli?, t lei T 0 all whom-t may concern Be it known that l, WALTER 0. BonetnRDT, a citizen of t-l'ie lUnited itates.l residing at Austinville, in tlie county oi ll/Tytlie, Sta e of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in. Apparatus 'for Treating Pulps; and Il (lo .hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and enact da scription of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use tlie same.,

This invention relates to apparatus for treating:r pulps and has for its object the provision or' an improved apparatus of this character, and more particularly "le provision of an. improved apparatus for carrying out the differential sedimentation of the solid particles of a pulp, suoli, for example, as an ore or mineral pulp.

ln my ap lication 'for Letters Patent ot the Unlted gtates, Serial No. S-33, filed J une Ll, i919, for improvements in the treat-- nient of concentrates, there is disclosed a method of treating mineral concentrates, and

25 more particularly flota-tion concentrates, containing colloidal matter, which comprises subjecting the concentrate in the form of a pulp to appropriate treatment for diapers-- ing or delocculating the colloidal constituents therein and subsequently separating;l the valuable mineral particles oi the pulp from the dispersed colloids tite gang-ue particles by sedimentation of the former and decantation oi the latter, and preferably by hindered settling so as to effect difierential sedimentation of the solid particles ot' tlie pulp. The present. invention is particulllly directed to tile provision of an inin proved apparatus for carrying out hin ered settling of a pulp under appropriate conditions 'for securing diilierential sedimentation of the solid particles oi the pulp.

The apparatus oi tlie invention comprises a tank relatively deep as compared with its other dimensions and provided with appropriate means for permitting the separate re moval or Withdrawal therefrom of settled solid particles of the principal mineral, the final top layer of lighter secondary mineral and of supernatant liquor. `Within the tank appropriate instrumentalities are provided, preferably one or more resilient members, auch as cliains secured at their lower ends near the bottoni of tlie tank and arranged to lie reciprocated to adesired extent at their 5 upper ends, for effecting a gentle disturbance of the upper portion of the settled out uuconsolidated sediment in tlie tanlr so as to permit differential sedimentation and. separation oit solid particles. lnterniedisteits G top and bottom the tank preferably provided with an outlet for ille withdrawal of material therefroma Appropriate Ineens are provided for conducting or feeding pulp into, the tanl; preferably `with the least` G possible disturbance ot' the contents thereofn in ctice, the tanks are preferably arranged in so that the iilling of one lt with pulp may loe effected while tlie ents of the other tanlr is undergoing re- 7' inoval.

n tile accompanying drawings l have illustrated what l now believe to lie the beet modes-of` arrying out tlie invention. lu these drawings,

Figure l is a sectional elevation oi an apparatus embodying the principles oit' the in- Ventron;

Figure? is an elevation of a. pair of cooperating tanks or' the construction illustrated 8 in Figure l; i

Figure 3 is a detail View illustrating modified arrangement for reciprocating the upper ends of the resilient ineinliers suspended'witliin tive tanlc; and s Figure is a sectional yelevation oi an appara'tus provided with a modified instrurnentalitjy for effecting a gentle disturbance oi"- tlie upper portion oLt tiic settled but unconsolidated sediment in tlie tank. 9

Referring now to igures l and 2 of 'the accompanying drawings there is represented an apparatus con'iprising a platform 5 upon which is mounted a pair of tall settling tanks 6. depth as compared with their other clinico sions, and the interior vertical section o1 eacli tank lias tlie configuration o a 'frustrum o a cone or pyramid with t-lie larger end resting on the platform The plat- 1 form and tanks 6 may be built of any appropriate material. l have found steel, wood or concrete well adapted for this purpose.

Each tanlr is provided its bottom with i a clean-out openingv or door-way t 'ii/ls which the settled solid particles roar moved or withdrawn from tlic tank.`

These tanks have a considerable e.

' from any tank sedimentation or settling', the tloonweys l are closc by door pistes 8, 'which are pret erehly secured to the tenks,'cs for exemple7 by bolts 9, so es o Jtorno a. water-tight joint with their 'respective tanks. During the cleaning out operation7 the, door plate- 8 may' be swung ont of the wey by means of a cable anti cooperating pulleys l() suspendlecl from a support ll secured to the upper end of the tank G. The position of the door plate 8 when thusv swung out of the wey is Antliectefl by dotted lines in l.

A trough l2 is positioned in front ot the openings or doors 7 for receiving the settled solid particles Withdrawn from the tanks. A cer-loading elevator 13 carried by an nppropriete truck mounted on tracks l. is 0peratively arranged to (lig the solid particles out of the troughs ,12 and to discharge the same into a carl standing on tracks 16. The tracks "14 and l5 may be arranged in front, of a serie-s ol' tanks 6 so as to permity the convenient loncling, By movement of theH elevator 13. of the solid particles Withdrawn in the series. The pulp to he treated is (leliveretlto each tank 6 through c. perforated pipe 1.7,' which coznnmncet'es et its top with a mam pulp supply pipe 18 and is provided with a. velve 19 'for controlling the pulp supply. The

ipe 17- exteuols throughout the entire length of the tank 6 and is provitle l with discharge outlets at frequent intervals throughout 'its Whole length Within the tank, whereby the pulp can be fed into the tank with the least possible d'sturhence of the contents thereof. ln outlet or overflow pipe 2O communicates with the interior the tank neer the togo thereof and serves to conduct supernatant liquor e. settling tank (not shown) or other appropriate place of disposal. .ef second outlet or overflow pipe 2l communicates with the interior of the tank :1t en oppro-Y prizrte distance below the pipe 20. rhe pipe 21 is provided with a. valve 22 anal is an ranged to discharge into ditch or trough 23 which may conveniently be formeel in the platform 5. A

Brackets 24, mounted on topo2 the tanks 6. support bearings 25 in which is mounted s. shaft VZ6 carrying arms 27. ln the apparatus illustratetl in the accompanying drewings there are two arms 27 tor each tank (l. A chain 28 is suspended from the extremity of each end of each erm Q7. and these chains hong: loosely within the lurks anal :1 secured et their lower @nils to the bottoms of the tanks hy -lmlts 20. llt 'will he that there 'are thus tour chains loosely suspended in each tank.

The shaft 26 andv the arms 2T are adapted to be rockecl hy means ot' u crank erm 30 which receives its motion by ineens o e. rofl ill eccentricelly pivotefl to a rear Wheel 32. The gear Wheel 32 is driven oy en electric lgs c niotlilecl rl rnovrng the rocker erm. 35 which is s. shaft motion Ercan l" com 36 and reeeiveseits mounted on rotatable shaft 'l shaft antl rocker erm shaft are snpportecl by suitble bearings (not shown) mounted on n bracket 39. The chains stre in the proper position by grooved wheel 4:0, which are supporte by suitable bearings and brackets. The movement o1? the rocker arm 35 causes the chains 28 to alternately pull tout and. fell slacks lent es the concentrate settles and packs the tank, the slack portion in chains moves upwer progressively.

llherc the tanks o nre in pelrs.

las shown in Figure 5?., o lof-poss il having a valve #i2 is provirlecl between the two tanks. Preferably this laf/pass pipe el communicates with the tanks t3 et a level in' termediate thaty of he pipes yThe lay-pass price All serves to convey pulp from the top ofthe illecl tenk' to the nel# jacent tank which is ln'ng filled.

ln Figure 4 l have represented s ned torni o opperste-s embodying; certain he invention. The i the seine a .fore lese-r? unleinental aspects oil".v '-f. tank 6 of this apparatus s o eral construction es hcreinlo.

is connected by ineens -oz s swivel to one end of n cable which passes over pulleys@ und has ettacnetl to its other enel :t counter weight stl. The bevel gear 456 has en extentle hul) (not shown,` which is supported in e hearing 53 is (lriven or s bevel pinion secured cerne a pulley 5le the latter heng'etlspteo to 'be driven trom any suitable power ln the operation ofthe tes illus trai-@cl in 3., 2 and 3 of wings, the pulp to be treated is teder i cncer?. into the trink 6 with the least possible el' urlmnce of the contents of the the pulp flows clown the perforated or slottetl pipe il", it naturally emerges therefrom vprincipally through those holes which are in the 'bottom o moom in. iiio ours? o p of les,

immealiae ioios. l im fiom iveniy to sixiy cyclos per minolta, m6,? @rief-,ph whom me slack pail', comes, 'liey move in lime will@ iwmselves, it will be seen iiaft ih@ pulp in the portion of the mok Hfoovu. iii@ mass which is in process of corp Eoiidaion "receives Very little agiation or om Hmm.

fis is mail imiosH/.u eo ''.iioso skilled iii the lrom a minerai pulp., dispiays several more o1: lm" distinc layers or Zones. :in the upper @e sopznotion ci mineral patices from relai rely c'iilue pulp of the maturi@ of fame ing that term is generally imdolfsood Fzuiziif down Tin@ :fono l Lmm the zone 'iiininm imo mms@ lie mineral mmctlwii n'iziiimmn possible 'mclqiiig@ illus (framing ille iow- .inzil fiona that oi coi'ilfioio Conimgm in which mov@ finally suppiwsrl.

, mass mino'ai particles, in sstiingconsistency o qiiczoswici Tiles@ opnings hve less iessaance to he upward 'How of Waller .imnhave le minute inersiiai spzivff of iii@ mss ami the water or liquor is 'fbiieieby pfe'mieilo "rush lo these opow .ings from file intesaiiul Spaces of the @orn rounding omiso and lms @Soupe agziinsl; loos 'esiszmco lxzm if i luid no such ussis'rmis. f iniinsic Weight oi' the Seling muil/e- Qoniilmtes io ibis; kation, mi lie xe zxn im, Wiien flood of colloids bf 'fha ille above ciesoxiliefi'oopoiiing iii@ final oi consoiiaieii laf/ex? of'mineml particles is paokeci into h@ Smziiios compos; ammissioni vrili die demiy 1^ in@ indi: 'of liose coziainocl in tho feed to 'tim tank are timo cm'reiizly consolxdod,

gifhils tile lighter minei'als tend o be cor 'iei upwaixi andioi'm di@ upper layer of lio settled mass when lie iiliing of the iiml is finally oompleed.

is previously stzied, the function of tlo sirioi 43 is die same as ili'mt of the chains consiss of a hub homing two or more blades, secured to die square shaft 45 and rotating slowlytilerewili, Say at from five to wenty revolui'ions per minute. The iiiaiios may be made of Steel, cast iron, or wood and the lower or acting faces of the ivlacle are siopefi as to mail@ an angle of; about aliirty ro foryivedegrees with the horizontal, the lower edges of ille blades ming tlmfollowing as the stiffer is milite@ blade is loving owaiwi 'zhe eye, and the foot oi? the inclino-mii of the biadqsgom; lii'ned with lieii' rom/tion. is to produc-o a' oi slimming aoion upon tim lie, sodimem, facilitating this packing thereof and gradually forcing lie sciriei' upm-ami as; @he resistance of the sedimon; gradually increases.

the opeaion of the appamus, aim@ 'ion living; directed to .dig'ures' and 2, andY a, L32 um.

IGS

rate removal from the tank of settled solid particles and supernatant liquor. 5. An apparatus for the treatment of pulps comprising a tank relatively deep asA compared with its other dimensions, and adapted to contain a pulp, a chain suspended within the tank and secured at its lower end near the bottom of the tank, a reciprocatory member near the top of the tank to which the upper end of the chain is secured, and means for reciprocating said member and thereby imparting to said chain sufficient motion to elfect a gentle disturbance of the pulp in thetank.

6. An apparatus for the treatment of pulps comprising a tank relativelydeep as ycompared with its other dimensions, and

adapted to contain a pulp, a feed pipe arranged Within said tank and provided with a plurality of outlets positioned at different levels, a resilient element longitudinally disposed within the tank and extending throughout substantially its entire depth, means for moving said element so as to effect a gentle disturbance of the pulp in the tank, means permitting the separate removal from the tank of settled solid particles and supernatant liquor, and means positioned intermediate the top and bottom of n the tank for permitting the withdrawal of material from the tank. Q

7. An apparatus for the treatment of pulps comprising a tank relatively deep as compared with its other dimensions, and adapted to contain a pulp, a feed pipe arranged Within said tank and provided with a plurality of outlets positioned at different levels, a plurality ot chains loosely suspended within the tank and having their lower ends secured near the bottom of the tank, a reciprocatory member near the top of the tank to which the upper ends of said chains are secured, means for reciprocating said member and thereby imparting to said chains sufficient motion to effect a gentle dieturbance of the pulp in the tank, and means permitting the separate removal from the tank of settled solid particles and supernatent liquor.

8. Any apparatus for the treatment of pulps comprising a tank relatively deep as compared with its other dimensions, and adapted to contain a pulp, a feed pipe arranged within said tank and provided with a plurality of outlets positioned at different levels, a plurality of chains suspended Within the tank and having their lower endssecured near the bottom of the tank, means for reciprocating the upper ends of said chains and thereby imparting to the chains sufficientr motion to effect a gentle disturbance of the pulp in the tank, a discharge opening near the bottom of the tank for'removing settled solid particles therefrom, an outlet near the top of the tank for the withdrawal of liquor therefrom, and means intermediate 'the top and bottom of the tank for effecting the withdrawal of material from the tank.

In testimony whereof I afhx 1n si ature.

WALTER O. BORG E DT. 

